Dissecting regulatory T cell expansion using polymer microparticles presenting defined ratios of self-antigen and regulatory cues.

Biomaterials allow for the precision control over the combination and release of cargo needed to engineer cell outcomes. These capabilities are particularly attractive as new candidate therapies to treat autoimmune diseases, conditions where dysfunctional immune cells create pathogenic tissue environments during attack of self-molecules termed self-antigens. Here we extend past studies showing combinations of a small molecule immunomodulator co-delivered with self-antigen induces antigen-specific regulatory T cells.

Anticancer efficacy of tannic acid is dependent on the stiffness of the underlying matrix.

Tannic acid (TA) has been previously shown to have anticancer potential for breast cancer but its effects on melanoma have not yet been investigated. Similarly, stiffness of the tumor microenvironment is known to have a profound effect on breast cancer metastasis, but little is known about its role on melanoma. The goal of the current study is to investigate the synergistic effects of TA and matrix stiffness on melanoma progression.